Diane, I received a call today supposedly from Paul Holden. I agree with you, if this was a legal matter, I should have received something in the mail. The scammers are coming out of the woodworks and I'm so sick of it. I block so many numbers from my phone, its ridiculous
I just spoke with 'Paul Holden' about a "legal matter", but refused to verify the last 4 of my social security number. He then said I would receive correspondence and hung up. SCAM
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt. It also must contains “mini-Miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes. The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
Read up on your rights here, get template letters to send and also make a complaint at this government site: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices: http://consumerfraudreporting.org/stateattorneygenerallist.php
Also report them here Washington State: http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/collectionagency/colrights.html
I have been getting these calls for months now on my cell, dads house phone and even my step father (who I have not lived with since 1997) got a call. Asked them to mail me something because I know it is a scam and they even had my entire SS number...scary
Use the links up there to help yourself and your Dad out. Also since they have your SS#
If you feel you SSN has been compromised, in addition to putting a fraud alert at the 3 credit bureaus, you may want to notify the IRS. Here is the link, fill out the proper form (probably 14039):
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/How-Do-You-Rep ... aud-Activity%3F